Meowllo evewypawdy, how ya’ duin’ today? As me told ya’ on or ‘bout da furst of this mumff me wuz gunna be duin’ sum educational postys this mumff seein’ as how it be National Pet Healff mumff and National Pet Dental Healff mumff and National Purrvent a Litter mumff and all. So me fawt today wuld be a good day to post one of those since mommy and me will be goin’ fur hers mumffly visit to hers doctow. Me wanted to talk a bit ‘bout dental diseases in kitties, so da learnin’ pawt of this posty’s gunna be in hooman speak so yous can all unnewstand evewyfin’.
Your cat’s dental health is very important. What goes on in the mouth can affect the rest of the body as well. It seems most cat breeds are purported to have some degree of gingivitis. This is something we know all too well as sis Lexi has had chronic gingivitis her whole life. At least for as long as she’s had teeth. When looking up information about the different cat breeds even the hearty mixed “tabby” is prone to periodontal diseases of some kind. Just what kinds of diseases are we cats prone to you ask. Well, gingivitis is at the top of the list. It comes with inflamed red gums and bad breath. But it doesn’t stop there.
Gingivitis migrates to the bones ad ligaments that support the teeth and if left untreated will cause the teeth too become loose and fall out. (or they can be removed by a vet.) But the bacteria that causes all this inflammation can also be carried by the blood stream to the rest of the body such as the organs (liver, kidneys, etc.) and cause damage and even organ failure. This gingivitis is caused by a buildup of plaque (food and debris) on the teeth that doesn’t get removed and then turns to tartar (the yellowing near the gums). FIV and FeLV are known to cause gingivitis, (altho’ not backed up by studies) but even an otherwise healthy kitty can be afflicted as in Lexi’s case.
Tooth Resorption is another dental affliction that may affect your feline friend. It is estimated that 28%-67% of cats have some amount of Tooth Resorption. It’s the most common cause of tooth loss in cats. It is very painful and can cause many other problems as well. You can read more about it here. Stomatitis is another dental problem cats may be afflicted with. Little is known about the cause of Stomatitis, but it is painful and doesn’t respond very well to treatments. The best course of action although drastic is typically removal of the teeth.
Stomatitis is best described as an atypical immune response to the chronic presence of organisms. The classical Stomatitis lesions are located at the back of the mouth. Again FIV and FeLV can be precursors to this disease as well. But it’s important to remember that even an otherwise healthy cat may be afflicted. The treatment for all of these diseases is similar and may include antibiotics, dental cleanings and extractions among others. Please consult with your Vet for the appropriate treatment for your feline family member. Lexi would like all of you to know that a cat can live a happy and productive life without their teeth. And can continue to eat most everything. It’s always a good idea to train your cat early to enjoy getting their teeth brushed. And if possible daily brushings are best. Remember to use a toothbrush made for your cat or dog as well as toothpaste. DO NOT use human toothpaste it is harmful to both cats and dogs.
We have barely scratched the surface of dental diseases and their effects on your feline friend, but we hope we’ve shared enough to make you think about the dental health of your pets. And take some steps to help prevent tooth loss as long as possible. And maybe talk with your Vet about your cats teeth and gums and implement your own dental program at home. Dental health is important to your cat’s health and can effect other areas of their body, so it is something to take seriously. And while weez on da subject meez gotta go and get meez teefys bwushed wight now.
Meez weady mommy, giv me da toofbwush
So maybe this isn’t da bestest way to do
this but you get da idea. It’s weally
purrtant to take care of yous pets teef.
So, Till da nex time………………….Be Blest!!!
Service Cats U.S. 
Virtually all of my cats have had some sort of dental problem. Some were worse than others. None of them would let me brush their teeth tho, so they get dental treats. Disney & Willow both had to have extractions, poor babies. sigh
Love u & mommy too!! ❤️❤️❤️
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Yep awnty Theresa mommy sez dat she kuldn’t find any bweed of cat dat didn’t come wiff a dental warnin’. And she wunnewed what peeps did long ago afur Vets did dental work at 500.00 to 700.00 a pop.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
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Meowmy has a whole collection of kitty (and doggy) tooth care items…doggy and Minko submit fairly well, but Pipo…OMC! He hisses and growls even…and hides, too, so we try to do the best we can…we used to get stuff in our water, too, but meowmy stopped using it, thinking purrhaps chemicals like those, were not the best idea afterall.
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Well sum of those water additives awe good fur ya’. We can’t fink wight now of da wordin’ yous hav to look fur, but it’s Vet weccommended and won’t hurt ya’. And there’s always tweats. MOL
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
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Thanks for the great post Dezi!!!!
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fankss fur thee good post Dezi an Lexi! Mee hassJuvenile Ginngyvitis an LadyMumm triess to brush mee teeth butt fingss not werk so good. Hopefully thiss will cleer up inn time with sum meddysin.
As you’ss know Aunty Nylablue had Perrydontel disease all her life an when shee came to LadyMum in ’06 shee had 15 teeth an bye March ’09 shee onlee had 11…shee hd surgery an once they wass reemoved that cleered up purrfectly!
Teeth purroblemss are such a pain 😉
Luv an paw kissess Siddhartha Henry an LadyMum xxxxx
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Yep, sis Lexi only has a kupple fwee teefies left, and hers a happy camper wiffout all those nasty teefs in hers mouff. Weez purrayin’ yous clears up so yous not hav to lose yous teefies early, but sis Lexi sez it’s no big deal.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
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Mee-you thee onlee fing that wurriess LadyMum iss thee cost of thee surgery…when Aunty Nylablue had her reemain teethss out it costed $600. green papurrss an shee had her Ex-fee-onsay to help with thee cost.
If mee endss up needin surgery LadyMum doess not have enuff green papurrss….so wee cross thee pawss all will bee well 😉
Aunty Nylablue eated well w/out her teethss so LadyMum iss not wurried bout that; just thee cost….
nose bumpss Siddhartha Henry xxxxx
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Altho’ it musta been painful afur it happened, sis Lexi’s teefies all fell out on their own. Cuz mommy didn’t hav da gween papers to take hers to da Vet fur dental work by then eever. So yous not HAVto hav surgewy, but weez sure sum of yous furiends wuld help.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
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Wee just hopess thiss condishun cleerss up…mee likess mee teefiess ALLOTT! 😉
Yur rite wee wood purrobablee have help. LadyMum sayss it wass so hard goin thru thee surgery with Nylablue shee wood reelly not want to have to do that again…
Pawss crossed mee will bee all rite!
Luv Siddhartha Henry ❤ ❤ ❤
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Sistr Zoe knows all about that resorption stuff and now she gets her teeth brushed every night! Great indo sweeties!
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Oh wow Brian, so sorry fur Zoe. Glad she be in good hands tho’
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
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Great post, it’s important to look after your pearly whites!
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Fanks Misaki, it sure is.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
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Your article on tooth decay and the importance of brushing is very valuable Dezi.
(((Shoko)))
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Fank yous Shoko, glad yous enjoyed it.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
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